Liquid heating electrode



Lsooa May 29, 1934. w o. rwoMBLY LIQUID HEATING ELECTRODE Filed Feb. 1a. 1932 uw l@ .m NRV ad .u| T N v Q bw N .R 2 I E ad O a H V "H Q m L., mm A Q W n N@ mi)b lll

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Patented May 29, 1934 entre rares PATENT FFICE LEQUID HEATING ELECTRODE ration of Michigan Application February 18, 1932, Serial No. 593,832

10 Claims.

This invention in its broadest aspect has application in any field in which the heating o1" a liquid is desired and has particular application in providing a conveniently attached heating unit capable of heating the cooling liquid of an automotive engine sufficiently to 'assure quick starting during severe weather.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an electrical liquid heater which utilizes both the resistance of the liquid and that of 'the metallic circuit to heat the liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid heating circuit in which one electrode is in the form of a resistance heating unit and the vessel containing the liquid constitutes the other electrode.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flexible electrode in the form of a resistance heating unit Which may be inserted into the cooling system of an automotive engine or the like without the necessity of any substantial alteration in the engine structure to adapt the heating unit thereto.

With these and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement oi parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein two convenient embodiments of my invention are set forth.

v Fig. l is a broken side elevation, partially shown in cross section, of one embodiment of my invention. 4

Fig. 2 is a partial cross sectional View taken longitudinally of an automotive engine with the heating electrode shown in Fig. 1 inserted in the cooling system.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with a slightly modified heating electrode.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the electrode shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of one convenient type of terminal.

In Fig. 1 reference character 1 generally designates my flexible heating electrode which is adapted to be inserted into any type of liquid containing vessel which is capable of being 50 coupled into an electric circuit to form a negative electrode or which may have inserted therein a negative electrode. Although my improved heating electrode is shown in the drawing specially adapted to the cooling system of an 55 automotive engine, this invention is in no sense (Cl. 21B-40) limited to any particular type of liquid containing vessel.

The electrode 1 consists of a resistance heating member 2, preferably of coiled wire construction but which may be merely a straight bar or the like. To insulate the electrode 1 from the surface of the vessel into which it may be inserted, which is, in the embodiment illustrated, the top walls of the cylinders of the engine generally designated 3, there is provided insulating washers 4 frictionally secured to the coils 2 by reducing the diameter or" the coils 2 and inserting the washers 4 over one end thereof. Although the Washers 4 may be of any suitable insulating material capable of supporting the electrode 1, a phenol condensation product is preferably employed. To facilitate the insertion of the electrode 1 into an angular passage, there is secured to the end of the coils 2 in a manner similar to the Washers 4, an in- 75 sulating nose piece 5.

When the electrode 1 is being supported by the insulating washers 4 upon a surface of the liquid containing vessel which constitutes a portion of the negative electrode, the amount of resistance offered by the circuit completing liquid and thus the heating effect may be varied by varying the diameter of the Washers 4.

For insulating a copper terminal 6 and a portion of the coils 2, there is provided a flexible tube 7. To prevent the insulating tube 7 from being detrimentally affected by the heat of the coils 2 in the event that the level of the liquid in the vessel becomes abnormally lowered, a bundle of tin plated copper core wires 8 are 90 soldered in the coils 2 to the terminal 6 at 9 and extend along the interior of the coils 2 and in contact therewith at irregular intervals to the extent that the tube '7 covers the coils 2. With this type of structure the core wires 8 act as a conductor for the major portion of the current which is passed through the terminal 6 with the result that the coils 2 in contact with the tube '7 are not substantially heated.

When my flexible heating electrode is employed to heat the liquid of the cooling system of an automotive engine in order to keep the engine head and block at a temperature which will assure prompt starting of the engine during severe weather, the outlet elbow casting 10 :is removed from the engine 3 and the electrode l is inserted in the water space 11 of the cylinder head block. The electrode 1 is only inserted into the cooling system to the extent that will y permit the thin copper terminal 6 and tube 7 to extend out between the joint 12 formed between the elbow 10 and the cylinder head block 13 a suihcient distance to be coupled with the positive terminal of a power line. To assure a liquid tight joint between the elbow 10 and the head 13, a pair of soft gaskets 14 may be substituted for the hard gasket usually employed which will permLt the thin copper terminal 6 and flexible insulating tube 7 to be embedded in the gaskets 14 when the usual stud bolts which secures the elbow 10 to the head 13 are drawn up.

After the electrode 1 has been inserted in the space l1 and the elbow 10 again secured to the head 13 to form a liquid tight joint, the electric circuit may be completed by grounding the negative terminal of the power' line to any point on the engine 3. With the circuit thus comm pleted, the liquid in the space 11 will be heated by conduction from the resistance heating coils 2 as well as being directly heated by the resist ance it offers to the passage ci the current flowing between the electrode 1 and 'the walls of the engine 3 which constitutes the negative electrode.

In automotive engines which are not equipped with thermostatic controlled Valves in the outlet leading from the cylinder head to the radiator, the iiexible heating electrode may be in-l stalled in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The electrode is inserted into the water space by removing the rubber hose connection 16 from the elbow 17. The copper conductor 6 is provided with a copper threaded terminal bolt which is passed through the wall oi the ccnnection 16 to present a coupling fixture for the positive terminal of the power line. Washers 19 and 20 which conform to the curvature of the hose connection 16 and are snuggly fitted to the walls thereof by nuts 21 and 22 may be provided to eliminate any liquid leak resulting from the passing oi' the terminal 13 through the hose connection 16.

Although it is generally more economical to heat the liquid directly by the passage of an electrical current between two electrodes separated by the liquid without resorting to the heating by conduction from a resistance heating unit position in the water, in View of the usual source of electrical energy being transmitted into the home and business establishment at to volts, it is a decided advantage to provide the positive electrode with a resistance heating unit which materially lowers the potential between the electrode and thus greatly decreases the probability of any accident that might result from a short circuit.

In Fig. 5 is shown one convenient type of terminals which may extend from the usual l'ght socket or wall outlet of the power line. The conduit 23 is divided into two insulated branches 24 and 25. The branch 24 is pron vided with a rubber cover snap 26 which is adapted to be coupled with the copper terminal of the flexible heating electrode while the branch 25 is provided with a brass hook 27 which is adapted to be resiliently secured over any stud bolt head of the engine 3.

In order to vary the rate of heating per unit volume of liquid, it is only necessary to inn crease or decrease the length of the core wires 8 of the coils 2.

If desired a thermostat may be inserted in the electrical circuit to avoid over heating and uneconomical operation of the heater.

lfrom the foregoing description it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that I have provided a flexible heating electrode which may be readily inserted into a vessel containing an electrolyte and heat the same more readily and economically than the conventionally employed heating coil which does not depend upon an electrolyte to complete the circuit. FurtherI more, by employing an electrode equipped with a resistance heating unit, which results in a large potential drop in the circuit, the dinerence in potential between the electrodes separated by the electrolyte is materially reduced and the heatingT electrode may be directly connected to the usual 110 to 126 volt circuit without the employment of a step down transformer to eliminate the occurence of accidental shock to the operator due to short circuits. Also, I 95 have developed a exiblc heating unit which can be inserted into the angular' passageways of the water space in the head of an automotive engine and will heat the engine to the proper temperature for quick starting without depend-- ing upon the circulation of the water to convey the heat to the essential points in the engine.

In the description frequent reference was made to positive and negative electrodes but this was done only for the purpose of clarity as my heating unit functions equally as well regardless of which terminal of the power line is secured to the resistance heating electrode 1.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A flexible liquid heating electrode comprising a terminal conductor, a resistance heating coil connected to said conductor, and insulating washers rictionally engaging said coil at spaced intervals whereby said coil is insulated from a 120 supporting surface 'for said electrode.

2. A nexible liquid heating electrode comprising a terminal conductor, a resistance heating unit connected to said conductor, and insulating washer frictionally engaging said unit at spaced intervals whereby said unit is insulated and elevated from a supporting surface for said electrode.

3. A liquid heating electrode comprising a flexible resistance heating unit including an 139 electrical connector, and insulating member enn gaging said unit at spaced intervals whereby said unit is insulated and elevated from a supporting surface for said electrode.

4. A liquid heating electrode comprising a resistance heating unit including an electrical connector, and insulating washers engaging said unit at spaced intervals whereby said unit is insulated and elevated from a supporting surface for said electrode. c

5. A liquid heating electrode comprising a resistance heating unit including an electrical connector, and electrical insulating means impervious to liquid for said unit presenting an insulation shield to a supporting surface for said 145 electrode pervious to liquid.

6. A flexible liquid heating electrode comprising a metallic resistance heating unit including an electrical connector', and electrical insulating means impervious to liquid for said unit 15D presenting an insulation shield to a supporting surface for said electrode pervious to liquid.

7. A exible heating electrode adapted to be inserted into the cooling system of an automotive engine comprising a metallic resistance heating unit, a ribbon-like external terminal electrically connected to said unit, a flexible conduit for said terminal and electrical insulating Washers impervious to liquid frictionally engaging said unit presenting an insulation shield to a supporting surface for said electrode pervious to liquid.

8. A liquid heating electrode comprising a exible electrical conductor unit adapted to be inserted into the cooling system of an automotive engine, an insulating means associated with said unit presenting a flexible insulating shield about the same whereby said unit is insulated and elevated from a supporting surface for said electrode.

9. A liquid heating electrode comprising an electrical conductor unit, insulating means associated with said unit throughout its length and spaced from the surface thereof, said electrode being exible in all directions, said means insulating and elevating said unit from a supporting surface for said electrode.

10. A liquid heating electrode comprising a conductor unit, insulating means associated with said unit throughout its length and spaced from the surface thereof, said electrode being exible in all directions yet having suicient stiffness to permit the insertion of the same into the cooling system of an automotive engine, said means insulating and elevating said unit from a supporting surface for said electrode.

WILLARD O. TWOMBLY. 

